Fed cattle stronger
The fed steer price average rose 85 cents per hundredweight to $85.59.
Live trade mostly ranged from $82-$86.50 with a few sales to the United States as high as $87.70, Canfax said.
Fed heifer prices rose $1.35.
About 19,000 head traded, down more than 3,000 from the week
before.
Sellers are moving only what they need to, Canfax said. Packers appeared comfortable with inventory heading into the Thanksgiving weekend.
More than 18,000 head of fed cattle were exported two weeks ago. Given the wide basis, large exports will likely continue, Canfax said.
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Alberta prices Oct. 5 were steers $83.50-$86.20 per cwt., flat rail $142.90 and heifers $83.75-$86, flat rail $142.
Until the last surge of bigger cattle moves through the system, price trends will likely remain steady.
As supplies tighten, prices should rise, Canfax said.
In the U.S., carcass weights continued to rise to record levels, but marketings did not back up and feedlots were able to press packers to pay more.
Beef price rises
U.S. cutouts rose with Choice up 67 cents US over the week before but 34 cents less than a year ago, while Select was $1.90 higher than the week before and $4.36 higher than last year.
The Choice-Select spread widened to $12.37, Canfax said.
The Canadian AAA cutout rose $3.70 Cdn over the week before while AA cutout was 19 cents higher. Compared to last year, AAA was $5.71 higher and AA was $7.79 higher.
The Canadian cut-out spread was $10.14 per cwt.
Canadian beef sales were mostly quiet heading into the Thanksgiving weekend.
Calgary wholesale prices for delivery this week were steady with the week before at $144-$145.
Feeders weaker
About 64,000 head sold, up 41 percent from the week before but four percent lower than last year.
The TEAM, Satellite, Nilsson Bros. and DLMS sales contributed slightly less than 20,000 head to auction market volumes, Canfax said.
The price of light calves fell the most last week, likely due to higher feed costs. Barley in Lethbridge rose about 10 cents per bushel last week.
Light feeder steers 300-500 pounds fell $2.25-$3.75 per cwt., steers 500-700 lb. were down $3.75-$4.50 and steers 800-900 lb. and heavier were down $1.75-$3.
Heifers 300-400 lb. fell $2.75, 500-700 lb. dropped $1.75 and 800-900 lb. and heavier were steady to $1.50 lower.
D1, 2 cows rose $2.75 and butcher bulls traded steady.
Feeder cattle exports for the week ending Sept. 30 were 6,345 head.
Canfax said feeder prices will struggle again this week with higher feed grain prices and labour shortages still an issue.
On the other hand, increased exports to the U.S. and higher fed cattle prices should add support.
In limited stock trade, plain bred cows were $450-$850, bred heifers $450-$800 and cow-calf pairs $600-$900.
Hog price rises
American hog processing plants kept up their strong slaughter pace last week and pushed hog prices higher, despite sometimes operating with negative margins.
There was speculation, however, that plants would reduce kill this week, reducing the demand for hogs.
The Iowa-southern Minnesota live cash price for hogs delivered to plants was $49.50 US per cwt. Oct. 6, up from $47.50 Sept 29.
The U.S. composite pork carcass cut-out value dipped mid-week but settled at $68.67 Oct. 6, up from $66.86 on Sept. 29.
Federal slaughter in the U.S. was estimated at 2.159 million, up from 2.142 million the week before.
Bison steady
Canadian rail carcass prices for top quality bison bulls younger than 30 months fell to $1.58 to $1.80 Cdn per lb. with a weighted average of $1.70 per lb., said the Saskatchewan Bison Association.
Top quality youthful bulls older than 30 months were $1.20 to $1.25 per lb.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Sept. 12 report said the weighted average carcass price for hot hanging weight bison bulls younger than 30 months was $180.12 US per cwt.
Sheep prices drop
Ontario Stockyards Inc. reported 2,140 sheep and lambs and 216 goats traded. All classes of lambs sold $5 Cdn lower.
Sheep were $7 per cwt. lower. Goats held firm.
